Muséum national d'histoire naturelle _ The species

FROM : Chessy-les-Mines, Rhône, France
SIZE : 5.6 x 4.4 x 3.7 cm

This azurite sample shows losangic crystals composed by multiple facets. This specimen is dark blue in color, with some slightly transparent areas. It measures 5.6 x 4.4 x 3.7 cm.

This azurite comes from the mine of Chessy, in the Rhone. It is illustrated page 770 of volume III of the "Mineralogie de la France" from Alfred Lacroix. It was acquired in 1851.

This sample is currently exposed in the Treasure Room, located within the Gallery of Mineralogy of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle.

Photography: Louis-Dominique Bayle, © MNHN.

SPECIE : Azurite

HISTORY : Name inspired by Persian word "lazhward" meaning "blue", in reference to its colour

Species redescribed and renamed in 1824 par François-Sulpice Beudant (1787-1850), French mineralogist and geologist

Type-locality: Chessy-les-Mines, Rhône, France
ANCIENT NAME : Fleur de cuivre bleu, cuivre carbonaté bleu

CHEMICAL FORMULA : Cu3 (CO3)2 (OH)2
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Monoclinic
COLOR : Light blue to dark blue
DIAPHANIETY : Transparent to opaque
LUSTER : Vitreous
STREAK : Light blue
MORPHOLOGY : Tabular crystals, prismatic, rhomboedric, massive, earthy, as roses, botryoidal
HARDNESS : 3,5-4,0
DENSITY : 3,78

CHEMICAL CLASS : V - Carbonates, nitrates
GROUP : Azurite
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 5/C.01-10
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 5.BA.05

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MNHN N°51.303

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